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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the schedule for the virtual symposium?
We are moving forward with three days of sessions, but not full days out of respect for presenters and attendees who live around the world and for whom late afternoon or evening (Eastern Time) sessions and activities would prove a hardship or exclude them entirely. We will offer morning and afternoon sessions from Thursday, June 8th to Saturday, June 10th and pre-symposium institutes on Tuesday, June 6th and Wednesday, June 7th, 2023. 
 
What time zone will be used for virtual sessions?
Sessions will take place in Eastern Daylight Time (ET).
 
What do I get when I register for the full symposium?
Your registration grants you access to three days of live presentations held from Thursday, June 8th to Saturday, June 10th as well as access to the session recordings for 60 days after the conclusion of the IASWG Virtual Symposium. We do have a one-day registration option if you are only able to attend sessions on one day. We adjusted our registration fees for this online experience. Given the ongoing economic impact that COVID-19 is having across the world and with the devaluation of many currencies, increased unemployment, and illness, we set rates that are affordable so no one needs to miss out on connection and learning. All registration levels come with on-demand, 60-day access so you can watch sessions after the conclusion of the live event.  

How do I register?
Registration is now open here.
 
Do I need to be a member to register for the symposium?
While we encourage you to join IASWG to receive a discounted symposium registration rate and access to IASWG member resources for a year, membership is not required to participate in the symposium. 

Will attendees be able to ask questions or participate in the presentations or are the sessions just going to consist of streamed presentations?
Attendees are able to interact with presenters and other attendees through Zoom features like the live chat window and/or polling. We would like for sessions to be interactive whenever possible.
 
Will sessions be recorded and archived for later viewing? 
Our plan to archive as many presentations as possible and make them available for attendees for 60 days after the symposium. 

Note about Attending Live Presentations: By checking the box in the Presentation Program Gallery to participate in Live Presentations, I grant, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, The International Association for Social Work with Groups (“IASWG”) the irrevocable right and permission to capture video, take photographs, and otherwise record and transcribe my participation in the seminar (“Recordings”).  I hereby grant to IASWG and its agencies, successors, and assigns, the royalty-free right and permission to publish, distribute, and otherwise use, reproduce, modify, incorporate into a larger work, adapt, add to, delete from the Recordings, including my name, voice, likeness, professional title, biographical information, presentation, and any other identifying information, throughout the world, in any form of media, whether now known or hereinafter developed, without limitation as to form or manner, in perpetuity without further compensation or obligation to me.

How do I access the presentations?
Before the event, you will receive login information to view the online session gallery which will include a link for attendees to join the virtual presentations. Only registered attendees who are logged in will be able to access these links.
 
What happens if I am unable to see the session that I want to attend?
Most presentations will be recorded and archived when possible for 60 days after the symposium. If your connection does not allow you to participate live, we encourage you to access recorded sessions once they are made available (this will be announced and communicated).
 
What happens if there are technical issues during a session?
Technology is wonderful, but sometimes it does not perform as we planned. We will have technical support available during the event, both in the zoom sessions and by email at [email protected]. If your session is disrupted, we encourage you to continue the session if at all possible. If your session is disrupted and you are unable to proceed due to a variety of issues, please email [email protected].
 
If I am a presenter, do I have to register?
We are strongly encourage presenters to support the event and each other by participating fully as a registered attendee as well as being able to receive access to all symposium content. All presenters must pre-register for the event. Presenters can register for one-day if they only plan to attend the day of their session.
 
Are there group discounts?
Group discounts are available. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
 
When will the schedule come out?
The schedule will be available soon.
 
Are CEs available?
Social workers participating in this event are eligible to earn continuing education clock hours based on the number of continuing education eligible sessions attended and documented during the symposium.

IASWG Goes Virtual FAQs

What equipment will I need to participate in the symposium as an attendee?
You will need a smartphone, tablet, or computer to see the events. A web camera may also be helpful so you can be seen as you engage in discussion and/or small breakout groups with other participants. If you have earbuds with a microphone, that would be great to minimize background noise.

What equipment will I need to participate as a presenter?
Presenters will need a computer or tablet with a webcam. It would be preferred that you have headphones or earbuds with a microphone so your background noise is diminished as well. IASWG will create the zoom meeting as well as provide a zoom host and will manage the technology for you in their assigned room. If you would prefer to host your own zoom session and have access to a zoom pro account, please email [email protected] to let us know. 

Do I need to download Zoom in order to join presentations?
You do not need to download the app, but there may be rooms that prevent your entry unless you have the app. It’s free and can be found at www.zoom.us.

How can I become more familiar with Zoom? 
Zoom has created many videos and online guides to support users. Here are a few resources to get you started:

Do I need a web camera in order to participate? If I don’t have one, what options do I have for interacting with people during sessions and social time?
If you are an attendee and do not have a web camera, you can use a dial in number. These are provided in the invite you will receive when you register for any session. There is a specific number on the invite (you will see a list of numbers for regions, worldwide) that you should call. If you don’t see your region, there is a link to search for your “local” call-in number.

How do I get access to sessions on the days for which I have registered?
Once you have registered, you will receive an invitation to access our MeetingApp to review sessions and access presentation zoom links. If you are interested in attending two sessions during the same time frame or a session is scheduled for a time that does not work for you, do not worry, we are recording most sessions and will be archiving the links to recorded sessions.

What if I cannot get in to sessions? Whom do I contact?
If you are struggling to get into a session, email [email protected]. Members of the planning committee will be monitoring the sessions to provide tech support to attendees and presenters.

If friends and family are interested in watching with me, can I invite them?
That is a great question. Sadly, no, only people who have registered can attend symposium events. If you want to bring a family member or your pets to a scheduled social or networking event, feel free! We never get to do that in person!

What if there are two sessions I want to go to at the same time, is there a way to join both?
You cannot attend both, but the sessions (most) will be recorded so that if you want to attend two, you can go to one and watch the recording of the other when they are posted on our website.

Am I required to be on camera during all sessions?
No, of course you are not. We’d love you to be visible because it adds to the sense of group that develops in a session. If you need to attend to your family or something urgent comes up, simply double check to make sure you are muted and then turn your video camera off. It’s also good “netiquette” to indicate that you are stepping away in the chat space.

Netiquette Guidelines 

Netiquette are the norms by which we aspire to conduct ourselves in online spaces so that we are mindful of the needs of the community. We ask that all attendees at this year’s event strive to comply with the following guidelines:

  1. Please enter all sessions with your microphone muted. Whether there are 5 or 250 people in zoom, any background noise can distract or disrupt the program.

  2. Please refrain from using the “chat” space for anything that is unrelated to the session. It’s fine to comment on the session, ask questions, affirm colleagues, acknowledge the presence of a colleague or friend in the session, indicate that you need a break, or are having difficulties with technology. Please do not use the chat for any other reasons.

  3. Please be mindful that we are a global organization and that there are many attendees from around the world. We ask that presenters and attendees speak as clearly and a bit more slowly when speaking in English so that those for whom English is not their first language, have time to translate and/or catch up.

  4. Given that WIFI may vary across the world and some attendees may have difficulty hearing, please speak up during sessions so that everyone can hear you clearly.

  5. All sessions are interactive and there will be opportunities to speak to other session attendees. It may feel awkward at first to know how to share airtime during a conversation in Zoom, but be patient and eventually everyone gets the hang of it. Try not to interrupt a colleague.

  6. If you are having difficulty participating, please let the Zoom hosts (who will be identified at the start of the session) know and they will assist you either through the chat or offline so as not to interrupt the session.

  7. Please share air time. There is always time for questions during sessions, but the time is limited. Be courteous to your colleagues who might also have questions.

  8. Please be respectful and professional in all sessions. We love to have fun, but this is also a professional conference where people come to learn, train, and expand their thinking and practice about group work.

  9. If you need to step away from the camera, please mute your microphone and turn off your web camera.

  10. We recognize that with online events, glitches and mistakes are going to happen. Let’s be mindful about this and gentle with each other. Let’s believe that together we can do this and it will be great!

Zoom Tips for a Successful Meeting

  1. Download and install the latest version of Zoom prior to the symposium.

  2. Communicate and Connect in Zoom
    • Mute your microphone when not speaking. 
    • Use Gallery View when socializing.
    • Use Speaker View all other times.
    • Raise your Hand if you’re having technical difficulties.
    • Use the Chat function to ask a content question or to connect with your fellow attendees.
  3. Download a reference tutorial, from Confex the Conference Exchange, for more visual instructions and notes.

Please send any additional questions to [email protected].